Improved buckle



ay /J N` PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. D C- PATENT Ormea.

JOSEPH J. WILKINS, OF MAGOMB, ILLINOIS.

IMJPRovl-:D BUCKLE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,803, dated May 15, `1866.

o all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn J. WILKINs, of Macomb, in the county of McDonough and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness-Buckles 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a. full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use the invention, I will proceed to describe it.

Figure l is a front view, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section, of my improved buckle as con,a structed and applied to the larger straps of the harness; Fig. 3 is a plan view, and Fig. 4 a longitudinal sectional View, of my improved buckle as applied to the smaller straps.

A represents the frame of the buckle, which has a plate, B, secured to it by metal strips at the edges, there being sufficient spacebetween the frame A and the back B for the insertion of the tug or other strap T, as shown in Fig. 2.

Near the center of the frame A is secured a crossbar, a, upon which is secured the tongue c, another bar, b, being located parallel to a, and at such a distance from a as to permit the tongue c to be raised up out of the hole in the strap and yet prevent it from being thrown outward beyond the line of the frame A.

A recess, n, is formed in the face of the plate B, as shown in Fig. 2, said recess being provided with a shoulder at its rear end, against which the tongue rests, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, when in operation.

G represents a metallic loop at one end for securing the buckle to the harness, It representing the strap connecting the buckle to the hames, supposing the buckle in this case to be used as a trace buckle. A loop, e, is also formed ou both the upper and lower edges of the buckle, one of said loops e serving to secure the buckle to the back-strap and the other for the belly-band.

It will thus be seen that the strap T passes straight through between the frame A and plate B, and is held securely by the tongue c, and can therefore be nnbnckled with ease whenever desired. It will also be seen that the surface next to the animal is perfectly smooth and flat, and will not, therefore, injure the animal, as the ordinary buckle so often does.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a buckle constructed on the same general plan, but slightly modified to adapt it for use on other parts of the harness. In this case the plate B consists of two thin plates, as shown in Fig. 4, the strap be ing secured to the buckle by having its end inserted between the two thin plates and secured by rivets, as shown.

Two or more loops, d, are formed to extend across the rear face ofthe buckle, as shown in Fig. 4, of proper size to admit the strap H, which is first inserted through them, and

thereby forming a loop in the strap at the right-hand side, by which it may be secured to a ring or other portion of the harness.

After passing through the loops d the strap H is again bent and passed through the space between the frame A and plate B, where it is secured by the tongue c, the same as in the other case, this last doubling of the strap also formingaloop at the left-hand end for attaching the strap to any desired portion of the harness.

In Fig. 5 the buckle is represented as somewhat modified in its construction, the general plan, however, being the same. Inthis case the frame A is dispensed with, and in its stead the bars a and b are secured to the plate B in the same manner that the loops d are, loops being in this case shown on both faces of the buckle.

The tongue c also has a cam, ein, on its under face, as shown in Fig. 5, which presses upon the strap, so that as the latter is pulled back it will tend to turn the tongue and insure its entering the hole in the strap. The

outer end of the tongue may also be made to protrude, as shown, for the purpose of counteracting the tendency of the cam to throw its point into the hole, by pressing the thumb on said projecting end when it is desired to remove the strap entirely from the buckle.

By these means I am able to produce a buckle thatv is efficient, easily operated, and 2. Providing the buckle-tongue with the cam that will not gall or otherwise injure the aniu, for the purpose of rendering itself-operatmal. ing, as set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what JOSEPH J. WILKINS. I claim is Witnesses:

1. The buckle constructed and operating J. W. ANDERSON, substantially as shown and described. F. WM. RING. 

